On Mon, 24 Feb 2003 13:22:24 -0500 "Alexanian, Moorad"
<alexanian@uncw.edu> writes:
> Regarding What Would Jesus Do or Say? I would rather concentrate on
> What
> Jesus Did or Said! Let us not go into the business of guessing what
> would God do. Moorad
>
All my ancestors were Amish or Mennonites, and I grew up in a pacifist
church. Despite this indoctrination, I have had to conclude that the
peace churches have misinterpreted scripture by transferring what
properly applies to Christian individuals to the secular state. (I
consider the _cuius regio ejus religio_ perverse, so all states are
secular or demonic whatever their claims.) I can turn the other cheek
because the state protects me. But my forgiveness of an offender does not
mean that the judicial system should not punish. If I refuse to
prosecute, the miscreant is free to attack my fellowcitizens, and I am
supporting evil. Until God takes complete direct charge of all human
governments, there is no superior jurisdiction controlling the actions of
rogue nations. So the rules that apply to me cannot apply to any state on
earth. The duty of states relative to their citizens and visitors are
another matter.

Those who argue that the United Nations takes the place of states in
controlling evil are mistaken. NATO was needed in Europe to protect the
countries in the alliance. Those outside NATO were brutalized by the
Soviet dictatorship until its fall. The UN is currently reacting
essentially as the League of Nations reacted to Mussolini's attack on
Ethiopia, or as Chamberlain reacted to Hitler's invasions of Germany's
neighbors. It seems likely that WWII would not have occurred had
Mussolini and Hitler been challenged when they first started their armed
expansion. I believe that it is by God's grace that we are not living
with the 1000-year Reich, that Hitler foolishly attacked Russia before
landing in England. But it took the combined efforts of almost all the
rest of the world to defeat the Axis. Of course, following the arguments
of some today, we'd be better off if no one had ever stood up to Hitler.
Am I stupid that _Sieg Heil!_ doesn't thrill me?
Dave